Mexican Royalty: Los Cabos Luxury Resorts

The 20-mile corridor uniting San José del Cabo to the east and Cabo San Lucas to the west possesses an astounding natural beauty where desert and ocean collide. Past the pockets of gimmicky hotels and all-inclusive motels, this aquamarine crossroads known as Los Cabos harbors some of the most luxurious resorts in the Americas. Here, we explore a duo of showstoppers that form Mexico’s celeb-studded Holy Grail of luxury travel.

Sea and Mountain

A stunning feat of architectural and engineering ingenuity, Capella Pedregal proves the age-old adage of good things come to those who wait. Building the hotel’s grand entrance—which includes a near quarter-mile tunnel through Pedregal Mountain to an oceanfront promontory—took 10 years alone. This was followed by a series of high-design, boutique low-rises, erected either into the mountainside or along unspoiled beachfront, where all units face ocean panoramas and feature private plunge pools to soak in the scene. Next came 10 overwater pavilions anchoring the 12,000-square-foot Auriga Spa, inspired by the phases of the moon—ever-present in Cabo’s lucid skies—and a collection of slick infinity-edged swimming pools, enveloped by sand and surf. Today, this former quixotic fantasy is a jet-setter’s reality (though a firm pinch is necessary to confirm it’s not a dream).

Capella Pedregal’s 96 suites and villas embody Mexican coastal elegance. From the dramatic, studded mesquite wood doors to the handcrafted dark wood furnishings and colorful textiles, the decor is a blend of Mexican majesty and international chic.
The seaward-facing arrangement ensures a front-row seat to the many splendors of this tract of Pacific Ocean: breaching humpback whales; charismatic dolphins riding the waves; endless vistas of the natural arches composing the iconic Land’s End; incredible hues of orange, red, pink and purple painting the sky at sunrise and sunset; and sublime stargazing come nightfall. Adding to this “once upon a time in Mexico” reverie is supreme service across the board, from an in-house personal assistant to the welcoming wait staff, eager to fulfill any request.

With a culinary team led by Executive Chef Yvan Mucharraz and Food and Beverage Director Marco Bustamante of French Laundry and Per Se fame, respectfully, the resort’s four restaurants fall nothing short of experiential. In particular, signature restaurant Don Manuel’s focuses on reinvented Mexican cuisine in an elegant hacienda-style setting while El Farallón recreates a traditional outdoor fish market with fresh catch prepared to order on the sea-sprayed boulders of Pedregal’s foothills.

During non-peak hours, Capella’s restaurants transform into classrooms for a variety of culinary programs. Muddle, swizzle, invent and sample at the signature cocktails class with the resort’s lead mixologists. Strap on an apron and prepare to feast on your assignment at Capella’s cooking classes, where the syllabus includes making ceviches, tamales, moles and salsas.